Demoting splitting crack formation in confined concrete by silica fume

Silica fume is now an indispensable material for mixing high-strength because of its ultra fineness and the ability to fill into the interstitial void between cement and other fine powders. As such, concrete containing silica fume has better micro structural packing and hence lower porosity, which is very effective on demoting the formation and propagation of splitting cracks under compression. This suggests that concrete containing silica fume can delay the initiation of splitting crack and its development at post-cracking stage. In confined concrete column, it then infers that the same lateral strain and confining stress can be achieved at larger axial strain, which increases the ductility and deformability of the column.